Sign



L. R; LONG SIGN Filed Sept. 5. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

3 E 3 11 vi: 1 \m v e u\ 1 v Y? W E l 3 ML. f A nu m bmmw 9m NNWINQN N www %N N MQ INVENTOR Jar/sh. L 0/7 ATTOR NEY 1.. R. LONG Aug. 2,1927.

SIGN

Filed Sept.5, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 45/; i lay.

ATTORNEY Aug. 2, 1927.

L. R. LONG SIGN Filed Sept. 5: 1.925 4 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR [KW/5f? 10/7 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

umrr. stares PATENT *oF1Fi cE- Y I IaiwIs R. LONG, or PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

SIGN. p

Applic ation 'filed September 5, 1925. Serial No. 54,691.

sign of any desired length by simply adding. more units and coupling the units to a coin inon driving inechanisn'i.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention I have provided improved I details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in theaccoinpanying drawings, wherein i Fig. 1 is a front elevationalview of a sign,

I embodying-my invention, apartof the lower trains of the sign being broken away to illustrate thedrivingniechanism. ,Fig. 2. is a horizontal sectional View through the Sign. i j Fig- 3 is. an enlarged, detail, elevational view of the lower end of one of the drums and the rotating mechanism therefor.

Fig. 4: is an elevationalfview of one of the drums, illustrating its mounting, therotatmg gears being shown IILSGGlLlOIl.

Fig. aperspective View. of -an adjustable coupling for aligning the drums with. their driving mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View through one of the couplings forconnecting the drive shaft sections of ad oining units together.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the transmission gear housing, on the line 7 7,

lever in tripped automatic switch for breaking the circuit to" e the driving motor.

' Fig. 12is a perspective view of thetrip lever and the driving lug. Referring more in detail to the drawings; 1 designates ahousing or frame-prefers ably constructed ofsheet metal, havinga bottoinQ, a top 3, ends 4 and 5, and an open front 6, surrounded by a frame 7 supported.

Each unit comprises a vertiealdrum 8tr1- angular in cross section, the top end. of.

- which is rotatably mounted on a stud 9 fixed in a bracket 9 secured by bolts 9" .to a rail 10 which extends substantially the length of the housing to anchor the top of all thedrums. The bottom of each of the drums: has a supporting shaft 11 (Figs. 3 and journaled in an anti-friction bearing 11 carried in a bearing support 12 fixed to a plate 13 by bolts 13. Pinned to the shaft 11 is a worm gear wheel 14 having a web or' hub portion 15 provided with upwardly projectin which: i a plurality of indicia-carrying units are.

ing bosses"16 which engage the base of the drum. The drum is rotated from the worm gear by a driving studl7'also projecting from thehubportion 15 at a distance from the shaft 10 and engaging in an opening18;

in the bottom of the drum so that when the worm gear is rotated, the drum is rotated with it. i g The worm gear is driven by a worm 19 keyed to a drive shaft section20', which is rotatably mounted in bearings 21 and 221 also carried by the plate 13 at each end of the worm; f

- Supported'by brackets 23 on the plate 13' is an oil pan or reservoir 24. for containing a quantity of oil 25 in which the worm r0- tates to lubricate the moving parts of the drum and prevent undue friction and wear. The parts heretofore described comprise a singleunit of the sign, the complete sign comprising as many of these units as may be desired, each having its ownindividual rotating mechanism and bearing supports.

Thedrive shaft sections 20 of adjoining f unitsare connected at their adjoining ends by couplingsflfi (Figs. 2 and which receive adjacent ends of the shaft sections and are secured thereto by tapered pins 27 and 27 which extend tliroughapertures 28' section, three signs or advertisements will aligned at rest for approximately six sec 'be'successivelv presented to view at determined intervals controlled by the transmi S1011. The transmission 15, so timed that complementary sign faces of the drums are on'ds, between operating intervals of zippror; imately twelve seconds during which the drums are turning. Thus each of the three signs is exposed at rest once a minute.

"The transmission comprises a train of reduction gearing to drive the drums at the required speed, a trip mechan sm whereby the reduction gearing is' automaticallv disengaged from the drum rotating mechanism when the complementary sides of the drums 7 sion gearing is contained in a are in alignment, and a train 'of timing; gears driven fromthe reduction gears for setting the trip nechanism. The transmisk housing 33 (Figs. 7, 8 and 9) provided with a hinged cover 34 through which access may be had to the transmission parts. The transmission gearing is supported within the housing: between side frame members 35 and 36 secured in the gear housing 33 by cap screws 37 which extend through openings in the sides of the housing; 33 and are threaded into lugs37" on the frame members 35 and The train of reduction gears comprises a'worm;38 keyedto themotor shaft 39 and rotatably mounted in bearings 40 and 41- extending from the side frame 36, aworm gear 42 in mesh with the worm and pinn d on a shaft 43 carried by the side n'iembers 35 and 36,.and a pinion gear 44 also pinnd to the shaft 43 which meshes with a gear 45 fixed on a sleeve 46 loos-elv mounted on adriven shaft 47 which is mounted in bearings 48 and 49 in the. side frame members.

, volving about the shaft 47 engaees a co-mplementarv clutch member comprising an arn'r frame members.

The. shaft 47 projects through the frame member 35 and carries agear 50 pinned thereto which meshes with, a gear 51 pinned to a shaft 52 rotatably mounted inthe side Y Driving connection maintained, between the shaft 521 and the sleeve 46'by a driving clutch member comprising a lug 53 slidably carried in a bean ing 54 on thedrive sleeve 46. The his: re-- or projection 55' carried by a collar 55 pinned to the shaft 47 so that as long as the driving lug projects into alignment with the lug, the shaft 47 will rotateat the speed of the sleeve 46.

The shaft 52 is connected with the drum driv-e shafts by an adjustable coupling 56 (Fig. 5) comprising a disk 57 on the end of the shaft 30 and a disk 58 on the shaft 52. the disks being provided with apertures 59 and 60respectively. The apertures 59 in the disk 57 are irregularly spaced with rela tion to those in the disk 58 so that when the complementary sign faces. on the drums are in alignment and the transmission mechanism is in correct relation to the drums, bolts 61 and 62 mav be inserted into an alignment pair of apertures in the disks and the disks bolted together.

- Universal joints 63 and 64 mav be inserted in the shafting at each side of the coupling 56.

From the foregoing' it will be seen that the motor will constantly rotate the drums. and means must be provided to withdraw the drive hi5 53 out of contact with the arm 55 to disconnect the driving connection between the shaft 47 and the sleeve 46 when the sign faces are in alignment, and it for this purpose I provide the trip lever and the train of timing ,Q'ears.

I The timing gears comprise a gear 65 kcvcd to the sleeve 46 and meshine' with a gear 66 on a shaft 67. mounted between the side frames-and carrying a gearGS which meshes with a gear 69 on a cam shaft 70 rotatablv mounted between the side frames in bear ings71 and 72.

The cam shaft is provided with a disk 73 having pins 7 4- and 7 5 extending radiallv from the periphery thereof. The pins 74 and 75 are adapted to onstage a trip lever 76 pivotally carriedouthe sleeve 46. The trip lever comprises a yoke 61 (Fig. 152i pivotallv mounted on the sl eve 46 hr stud bolts 77 and 78 WlllCltQXtQHtl throuq'h bearinc's 77 and 7 8 in th-etrip lever and enga e threaded openings'79 in the sleeve 46. The upper end of the trip lever is pr vided wi h an arcuate cam 80; over which the pins 74 and 75 may ride to rock the trio lever out of'functional position. The lower end of the trip lever carries anear 80 to which is pinned the slotted head 81 f the drive lug- 53. The trip lever is held in functional position by an expansion spring 82. one end of which engages over a projection 83 on the trip lever and the other end. or which engages in a socket 84 in an arm 85 o the sleeve 46 diametricallv opposite the drive lug 53 so that the arcuate cam is normallv h ld in the path of the pins 74 and 75 and the drivelug in projected position.

Revolution of the pins 74 and 75 is so timed bv the timing gears with relation tothe revolution of the trip lever on the sleeve 46 that thepins engage the arcu'ateoam on its fifthandsixth revolutionsto cause the trip "lever to rock on its pivots against the tension of't'he spring and withdraw the drive {lug out of contact with the arm on the shaft 47 to stop rotation of the shaft and the drums, for it is at this point that the complementary sign faces on the drums are brought'into alignment, Thus it wil'l be noted thats'the drun is are atr-est for two revolutions of the trip lever andsince the pins do not come into contact w'i-ththe trip lever for four revolutions of the lever, the signs are in motion for four revolutions of the trip lever the drive lug being held projected by the spring 82 when free from the .ns Current forthe "motor is furnished from an ordinary lighting circuitcomprising the negative and positive leads 86-and 87 "(Fig. connected to a meter 88. One of the leads is connected to a wire 89 leading :to the motor and the other to a time'clock 90 by a'wire 91 and then tothe motor through the line '92. Shunted around the timelcloc'k by a 'wire93 is a? switch 9.4., presently described. The sign is preferably illuminated'by lights 95 suspended by brackets 96 in front of the sign." The lights are supplied with current frointlie wire97 connoct edto the lead 86 and 'by awire "97 connected to the opposite lead 87. y In the'wire 97" is a time clock '99 to control the lights as hereinafter described. a

To provide for economical operation of the sign it is desirable to stop t-he'mechanical operation of the sign 'it about midnight,

and to again start it to operate at, say six oclock in the morning; and to provide for automatically turning the lights off at claylight and on again at dark. purpose that I provide the time clocks.

The time clock 99 is in'the light circuit and controls the turning on and off of the light at the required time. The other clock is inserted in the motor circuit as required to start and stop mechanical operation of the sign. current to the motor while the sign is in the act of turning, the drumswould notystop with faces lined up to exhibita sign, and

since it is desirable tohave one of the signs in position when the drums are at rest, I

have provided the circuit 93 shunted around the time clock so that when the time clock has cut off the current of the'motor,'the motor may yet receive current through the shunt circuit and keep the sign in operation until one set of sign faces is in alignment, after which the shunt circuit is broken through the switch 94 which is operated from the cam shaft 70. The shaft comprises a lever 100 pivotally mounted on the side frame member-36 as at 101, one end of which ca r ries a contact 102 adapted to engage a the unit to operate.

It is for this Should the time clock 90 shut off the being contact 103 mounted konthe frame member;

the other end of the lever riding on a came the contacts are held closed'as the lever is on the high lobe of the cam, but atthetime the sign'faces come into alignment, theend of the lever drops into a notch 105 on the cam under tension of a spring 106, one end ofwhich is fixed to the lever and the other to the frame member 36 and the circuit is broken. Then the timeclock again comes on, the motonagain receives current through the time clock. I g g Attentioniis :also called to the fact that since each drum and its rotating gearing are individual units, any unit may be readily removed and replaced with a new unit in case .of breakage or failure of.any part of I The drums are also readily "detachable from the sign by removing the brackets 5 iii and-lifting-the drums off "the shaft 8 and I re eThe motor :31 drives the worm 38 which drivesthe'worm gear 42, and through it, the

pinion 44, which drives the gear 45- and rotates the sleeve 46 to revolve the drive lug 5.3uwh-icheng-ages theyarm '55-to drive the shaft47. The gear 50 on the shaft 47, meshing with the gear 51 on the shaft 52 connect- Inc ed to the drive shaft 30, rotates the worms 19 and they in turn drive the Worm gears to rotate the, drums until complementary faces of the drums are in alignment. At this time the first pin on the disk rides on the arcuate head of the trip lever to cause the trip lever to withdraw the drive lug 53 out of contact with the arm on the shaft 47 and stops farther rotation ofqthe' drums. The

trip lever continues to revolve and moves away from the pin 74 to project the lug 53 again into driving position but as the lug completes its next revolution, it comes into contact with the other pin'75 and the drive lug is again retracted'to pass the arm 55 without engaging it. The trip lever on its next revolution will not contact with the pins as they will have been advanced by the timing gears and the drive lug again picks up the arm 55 to continue rotation of the drums to bring the next sign into position. Thus it will be seen that the drums are idle for two revolutions of the trip lever and the travel of the pins 74 and 7 5 isso timed that the trip lever will make four'revolutions before it again strikes one of the pins, this the time required to bring the next sign "into position.

"The operation just described is repeated at the proper time intervals during the, day and the operation automatically discontinued and resumed at theproper time intervals under control of the clocks, as heretoe f0re:tle'scribed.- r V WVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is: 1

. ,1. In a changeable sign, an actuator comprising a web, having a fixed center shaft projected from one of its faces'and having a Worm gear rim, a drum having thrust bearing on said shaft, and pins on theweb member engaging the drum to rotate the drum with the web member, a worm meshing with said worm, gear, and means for driving the Worm. v i

2. In a changeable sign a plurality of rotatable, drums, anvactuator for each drum comprising a web having a worm gear rim, a shaft for supporting the web, a worm for drivingthe actuator, and means on the web for removably mounting the drum in driving connection with its actuator.

'3. In a changeable sign a plurality of rotatable drums each having a shaft socket anda pin sockettherein, an actuator for each drum comprising a web having a worm gearv rim, a shaft for supporting the web and extending above the face of the web to be received in the shaft socket and a pin'protruding from the face of the web and received in the pin socket to secure the drum in driving connection with the web.

4. In a changeable sign a rotatable drum,

an actuator for the drum comprising a web having a worm gear rim, a shaft fixed concentrically of the web, a bracket member in line with'the shaft and having a conical seat,

a bearing for the shaft receivable in the seat and means for clamping the bearing in the seat.

5. Ina changeable sign a'rotatable drum, an actuator for the drum comprising a web having. a worm gear rim, a shaft fixed concentrically of the web, a bracket member in line with the shaft and having a conical seat, a bearing for the shaft receivable in the seat, a retaining ring encircling the shaft and engaging the bearing, and means for securing the ring to the bracket member.

6. In a changeable sign a rotatable drum, an actuator for the drum, a relatively slow moving shaft in driving connection with the actuator, ashaft in driving connection with the slow moving shaft, an arm on the second named shaft, and a constantly rotating sleeve loosely mounted on the shaft and having a LEWIS R. LONG- V 

